5alpha-estrane-3alpha, 17beta-diols and esters thereof



Unite State amass Patented Dec. 26, 1961 The present invention relates to 3,17-bis-oxygenated estranes optionally alkylated at the l7-position and, more particularly, to 5a-estrane-3a,l7}8-diols and esters thereof as represented by the structural formula Aijn wherein R is hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical, and X and Y are members of the class consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl radicals.

The lower alkyl radicals represented by R are, suitably, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and the branched-chain isomers thereof.

The term X encompasses lower alkanoyl radicals exemplified by formyl, acetyl, propionyl,-butyryl, valeryl, caproyl, and the branched-chain isomers thereof, said groups being the acyl radicals of alkanoic acids containing fewer than 7 carbon atoms.

Starting material suitable for the preparation of the instant diols are the corresponding 17 8-hydroxy-3-ones of the structural formula wherein R is hydrogen or a lower alkyl radical. Reduction of the 3-oxo group, suitably with Raney nickel, affords the instant 304,17B-dil5. As a typical example, 1713- hydroxy-l7a-methyl-5a-estran-3-one in ethanol is'treated with W-S Raney nickel at the reflux temperature of the mixture. Removal of the catalyst by filtration and the solvent by evaporation yields the instant 17ot-II16thYl-5ocestrane-3a,17j8-diol.

The 3a,]7fi-di-(1OWEI' alkanoates) of this invention can be prepared by treatment of the corresponding diols with a lower alkanoic acid anhydride in pyridine. Su-estrane- 3 a,17;8-diol, for example, is heated at steam bath temperature with acetic anhydride and pyridine to afford Soc-6S- trane-3a,17fl-diol diacetate. A particularly suitable method of preparation of the l7a-alkyl-3a,17fl-di (lower alkanoates) of this invention involves reaction of the parent diols with the appropriate isopropenyl alkanoate in the presence of a suitable acidic catalyst such as p-toluenesultonic acid. The aforementioned l7a-methyl-5a-estrane- 30:,17/8-di0l, for example, upon treatment with isopropenyl acetate in the presence of a catalytic quantity of p-toluenesulfonic acid yields 17a-methyl-5a-estrane-3u,- l7B-diol diacetate.

The instant l7fi-mono-alkanoates of a-estrane-3a,17,B-

diol can be prepared by reduction of the corresponding 17,6-alkanoyloxy-Sa-estran-B-Ones with the aforementioned W-S Raney nickel catalyst. As a specific example, an ethanolic solution of 17,8-acetoxy-5u-estran-3-one is heated at reflux with W-S Raney nickel catalyst to produce 175- acetoxy-5ot-estran-3a-ol. On the other hand, reduction of 3a-alkanoyloxy-5a-estran-17-ones with lithium tri-(tertiary butoxy) aluminum hydride atfords the instant Bot-alkanoyloxy-5a-estran-17B-ols. A typical example of this process involves the reaction of 3oc-acetoxy-5a-estran-17- one in tetrahydrofuran with lithium tri-(tertiary butoxy) aluminum hydride to yield 3ot-3CEtOXY-5a-6Sil3il-17B-Ol.

Partial hydrolysis of the aforementioned l7a-(lower al-.

kyl)-5u-estrane-3a,l7;3-diol di-(lower alkanoates), suitably in an alkaline medium, affords the corresponding l7B-mono-(lower alkanoates). Treatment of Hot-methyl- 5uestrane-3a,l7fi-diol diacetate, for example, with an aqueous solution of potassium carbonate in methanol results in 17,3-acetoxy-l7ot-methyl-5e-estran-3a-ol.

The instant 3oc-(1OW6I alkanoyDoxy-Ua-(loWer alkyl)- 5a-estran-l7fi-ols can be manufactured by relatively short contact of the parent diols with a lower alkanoic acid anhydride in pyridine. Typically, the aforementioned 17amethyl-5ot-estrane-3a,17 8-diol is heated with acetic anhydride and pyridine for about 30 minutes to yield 3a-acetoxy-l7tt-methyl-5a-estran-1713-01.

The compounds of this invention are useful as a result of their valuable pharmacological properties. In particu-' 1211, they are potent estrogen antagonists as evidenced by their ability to inhibit the characteristic sexual changes accompanying the administration of estrogens. In addition, they are anabolic and androgenic agents.

The following examples are given by way of illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention in spirit or in scope. Temperatures are given ,in degrees centigrade C.), and quantities of materials in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1 T o a solution of 4 parts of 17B-hydroxy-5a-estran-3-one in 240 parts of ethanol is added 10 parts of W-5 Raney nickel catalyst, and the mixture is heated at reflux for 1 about 2 hours. The catalyst is removed by filtration, washed with ethanol, and the filtrate is concentrated to dryness. A benzene solution of the residue is submitted to chromatography on silica gel, and the column is eluted with 15% ethyl acetate in benzene. Evaporation of the solvents yields 5a-estrane-3a,17B-diol, M.P. 191.5-193"; [oz] =+3l.5 (chloroform). This substance is characterized by infrared absorption maxima at about 2.74, 2.88, 3.42, 6.9, 8.0, 9.4, and 9.56 microns.

Example 2 Example 3 A mixture of one part of 17a-ethyl-17,B-hydroxy-5uestran-3-one, parts of ethanol, and 2.5 parts of W-S Raney nickel is heated at reflux for about 4 hours, then cooled and filtered to remove the catalyst. The filtrate is concentrated to dryness, and the resulting residue is adsorbed on silica gel, then eluted with 10% ethyl acetate in 3 benzene to afford 17e-ethyl-5a-estrane-3a,l7fi-diol, Ml. 186-1865; [a] =+13 (chloroform). This diol exhibits maxima in the infrared at about 2.74, 3.4, 6.9, 7.25, 9.37, and 10.3 microns.

Example 4 A mixture of 4 parts of 5a-estrane-3oc,l7fi-diol, parts of acetic anhydride, and 90 parts of pyridine is heated on the steam bath for about 2 hours, during which time homogeneity is achieved, then allowed to stand at room temperature for about hours. The reaction mixture is poured slowly into ice and water, and the resulting precipitate is collected by filtration, then Washed with water to yield 5a-estrane-3ot,17B-diol diacetate. Recrystallization from ethanol results in needle-like crystals, MP. 142-1435"; [a] =+24 (chloroform). Infrared maxima are observed at about 3.42, 5.78, 6.9, 7.29, 7.92, 9.6, and 9.75' microns. I

Example 5 A mixture of 2 parts of 17fi-acetoxy-5a-estran-3-one, 150 parts of ethanol, and 5 parts of W-S Raney nickel catalyst is heated at reflux for about 2 hours. The catalyst is removed by filtration of the cooled reaction mixture,

Example 6 A mixture of 5 parts of l7u-methyl-su-estrane-3a,176- diol, 10 parts of acetic anhydride, and 100 parts of pyridine is heated at 90-100 for about 30 minutes, then cooled and poured. slowly into a mixture of ice and water. The resulting precipitate is collected by filtration and recrystallized from aqueous ethanol to afiord .3m-acetoxyl7a-methyl-5a-estran-17B-ol.

Example 7 To a solution of one part of 17ot-II1Etl1Yl-5oc-6Si1'8116- 3a,17fi-diol in 20 parts of isopropenyl acetate is added 0.15 part of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate, and this mixture is heated gently for about 7 hours, during which time the acetone formed is allowed to distil. The reaction mixture is cooled and diluted with about 70 parts of ether, then washed successively with water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, and water. The organic solution is dried and decolorized over a mixture of anhydrous potassium carbonate and activated carbon, and the'solvent is removed to afford a yellow oil, which solidifies on standing. Recrystallization from aqueous ethanol results in 17ot-methyl-5a-estrar1e-3u,l7fl-diol diacetate.

By substituting an equivalent quantity of isopropenylpropionate in the process of this example, 17a-rnethyl-5aestrane-Ela,17fi-diol dipropionate is obtained.

Example. 8

To a solution of one part of 17a-rnethyl-5ot-estrane- 3a,17,8-diol diacetate in 20 parts of methanol and 2.5 parts of water is added 0.5 part of potassium carbonate, and the resulting mixture is heated at reflux for about one hour. This reaction mixture is cooled, neutralized with acetic acid, and concentrated at reduced pressure to about onethird of its original volume. The residual mixture is diluted with ether and washed with water, then dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate. Removal of the solvent followed by crystallization of the resulting oily residue from aqueous ethanol yields l7 3-acetoxy-l7ix-rnethyl-5aestran-3a-ol.

Example 9 A mixture of one part of 3iz-acetoxy-5a-estran-17-one, 20 parts of tetrahydrofuran, and 2 parts of lithium tri- (tertiary butoxy) aluminum hydride is allowed to stand at room temperature for about 2 hours, then poured slowly into 5% aqueous acetic acid. The resulting precipitate is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with water, and recrystallized from aqueous ethanol to yield 3ct-acetoxy-5a-estran-17,3-01.

Example 10 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl radicals, and X and Y are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl radicals.

2. A compound of the structural formula wherein R is a lower alkyl radical.

. 5a-estrane-3a,17fi-dio1. 17a-methyl-5a-estrane-3a,17B-diol. 17u-ethyl-5e-estrane-3a,l7p-diol.

. References Cited in the file of this patent Salamon: Hel. Chirn. Acta, vol. 3-2, No. 4 (1949),

pages 1306-1314 (pages 1307-8 relied on).

Dorfman et al.: Androgens, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York (1956), pages 497-498..

Bowers et al.: J. Am. Chem. Soc, vol. 79 (1957), pages Rapala et al.: J. Org. Chem, vol. 23 (1958), pages 1 0 -5. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA 